Chapter 293: Blood and Sacrifice

Upon hearing Huilin's "terrifying" suggestion, Lin Ruoxi immediately raised her hand to stop her. "That's enough. You're very talented. I'm quite impressed by you."

It was the truth. Lin Ruoxi thought to herself that graduating with a master's degree at twenty, and taking over Jade Lotus International, was already quite impressive. There were always people who surpassed others. Despite Yang Chen's shy introduction of his little cousin, if she were to display all these honors publicly, it would surely shock a lot of people.

"Well, Sister, what kind of job do you think I should do?" Although Huilin wasn't entirely new to worldly life, this was her first time considering finding a job, especially in Zhonghai where she was unfamiliar.

In Huilin's simple mind, whether her grandmother hated Lin Ruoxi or not wasn't her concern. From a blood relationship standpoint, Lin Ruoxi was her sister, and she naturally treated her as such upon meeting her for the first time, which was why she felt so close to Lin Ruoxi.

Huilin believed that as long as she performed well and listened obediently, even if Lin Ruoxi knew she was the granddaughter of an "enemy," she would still accept her.

Lin Ruoxi felt somewhat surprised by Huilin's dependence on her, as if this girl were not Yang Chen's relative but rather her own.

"I think with your talents, it would be a shame to waste them. If you're interested," Lin Ruoxi turned to Yang Chen, who was eating and drinking heartily, "you can go to your cousin's company first and systematically learn about music and dance. Consider becoming a singer or actress in the future. If you don't like singing, dancing, or acting, you can come to our company headquarters. I'll arrange for you to work in the Finance Department with another sister surnamed Mo as her assistant, and she can teach you how to handle things. How about that?"

Huilin thought carefully and asked cautiously, "Sister, I like singing and playing the qin. Can I still become a singer?"

"You can. However, pop music and classical music are different. You'll need to learn systematically under a teacher," Lin Ruoxi replied.

Huilin then thought of something else and asked, "Will I have to wear very little clothing like those women on TV when I stand on stage to sing?"

Lin Ruoxi rarely smiled, seeming to be infected by Huilin's innocence, which also relaxed her mood considerably. "Not necessarily. Everyone has their own style. If you don't like that sexy attire, you can purely use your music to captivate others. Many singers do nothing but sing, and yet everyone still loves them."

"I'll go to Cousin Yang's company then," Huilin said happily. "When I was with Grandma before, she only let me sing old songs. Actually, I really like pop songs, but I never had a chance to learn properly!"

Lin Ruoxi smiled and said, "You can spend about a year learning first. You're still very young. If you feel it's not suitable, you can switch to working behind the scenes or try something else."

"No, as long as I want to do it, I'm sure I can do it well. Sister, look at these certificates—they are all earned through my own efforts!" Huilin appeared confident.

Lin Ruoxi nodded, her gaze at Huilin suddenly filled with a hint of special fondness and indulgence.

Yang Chen had originally wanted to ask Huilin if she truly understood the meaning of being a "singer," considering she had spent most of her life in the mountains. However, seeing Lin Ruoxi and Huilin smiling at each other, his heart warmed, feeling that none of it really mattered as long as they were happy.

Blood is thicker than water. Although Huilin dared not reveal her true identity, and Lin Ruoxi did not know that Huilin was her blood sister, a simple exchange seemed to make both girls feel that there was a deep connection between them, making it easier for them to become close.

After finishing the meal, Huilin obediently followed Wang Ma into the kitchen to clean up and wash the dishes. Watching this scene unfold, Lin Ruoxi's affection for this girl she had just met grew stronger.

Suddenly remembering the day when Yang Chen consulted her about letting his distant cousin stay and agreeing to another matter, Lin Ruoxi reminded Yang Chen coldly, "Now that Huilin is staying here because I allowed it, don't forget your promise to take Zhenxiu back to the orphanage."

Yang Chen was chewing on a toothpick while watching TV. After hearing Lin Ruoxi, he nodded. "I know, but we should choose a suitable day. Let's talk about it in a few days."

Lin Ruoxi said coldly, "Just don't forget. If you're unwilling, just say so, and I'll take Zhenxiu back to save time."

"Don't distrust me like that. I always keep my promises," Yang Chen replied.

Lin Ruoxi suddenly felt a pang in her heart. Did he really mean what he said? Did that mean their divorce six months later was also set in stone?

Suddenly feeling even more resentful towards Yang Chen, Lin Ruoxi glared at him fiercely and stomped upstairs, forcefully closing the door behind her.

Yang Chen stared blankly at the scene, not understanding how he had angered her again.

Since becoming the director of Jade Lotus Entertainment, Yang Chen found it difficult to find time every day to bring breakfast to the sisters in the Public Relations Department. Therefore, he had agreed to occasionally take on this responsibility.

As it was Huilin's first day in the company, Yang Chen naturally had to accompany her to work. So, after breakfast with Huilin and Lin Ruoxi at home, Yang Chen drove them to the company.

Lin Ruoxi told Huilin before setting off, "Let him take you today. In the future, you can ride with me in the same car since it's just across the street, very close."

Huilin didn't ask much and agreed readily. Although she didn't understand why Lin Ruoxi made this request, being able to spend more time with Lin Ruoxi was very joyful for Huilin. From childhood, her only close relative was Senior Nun Yun Miao, and most of the time she couldn't call her grandmother, only Master. Suddenly being able to live and work with a peer like a real sister made Huilin feel exceptionally happy.

On the way to the company, Huilin sat somewhat uncomfortably in the passenger seat, occasionally stealing glances at Yang Chen. This man beside her looked ordinary but was actually quite terrifying. Huilin felt a mix of liking and fear towards him.

Seeing Huilin hesitating, Yang Chen smirked and said, "If you keep looking at me like that, I might think you have a secret crush on me."

Huilin blushed and quickly shook her head like a rattle drum, "No, no, I just have some questions."

"What questions? Just ask. A woman's heart is like the depths of the ocean, asking me to find a needle in a haystack isn't that difficult?" Yang Chen sneered.

After hesitating for a while, Huilin finally asked, "Why does Sister seem to dislike Brother Yang so much?"

After pondering for a long time, Huilin felt that calling Yang Chen "Brother" seemed more appropriate. Calling him "brother-in-law" gave her a feeling that it might upset Lin Ruoxi.

Yang Chen sighed bitterly and said, "Your question is quite profound. I don't know why your sister always looks at me unfavorably. If I have to give a reason, it seems it started when I mentioned divorcing her after six months. Oh, and I have another woman outside, she caught us together."

Huilin seemed to hear something explosive, "Divorce? Why does Brother Yang want to divorce Sister?"

Suddenly, Huilin thought of the time when Senior Nun Yun Miao said she would become Yang Chen's wife. Could it be that Yang Chen wanted to divorce Lin Ruoxi and marry her instead?

At this thought, Huilin's fair face turned as if it were dyed with rouge, her pair of watery eyes filled with complexity and nervousness.

Yang Chen spoke of "divorce," his mood heavy and difficult to restrain, not paying much attention to Huilin's unusual reaction. He continued calmly, "In this world, many things cannot be achieved simply by liking or disliking. Fate is elusive but crucial. I guess maybe there's just no fate between us. I'm not exactly a good man either. When your sister wanted me to be her husband back then, it was mostly for show. Honestly, even now, I don't know if she has feelings for me or just a sense of duty. Anyway, I think parting ways would be a good choice for both of us, to not burden her and to free myself."

Huilin listened with a hint of disappointment and murmured a soft "Oh," seemingly understanding yet not fully grasping.

"Oh, by the way," Yang Chen asked curiously, "Why did you decide to work at Zhonghai?"

Huilin embarrassedly replied in a soft voice, "Grandma said that until she says I can go back, I have to stay here, and she doesn't give me any living expenses, so I had to find a job."

Yun Miao, oh Yun Miao, you're not just a vegetarian nun, you're a blood-sipping witch! Yang Chen screamed inwardly.

Upon arriving at Yulei Entertainment, as soon as they entered the company, Huilin, dressed in a light-colored winter outfit behind Yang Chen, attracted many gazes.

Although Huilin did not possess Lin Ruoxi's breathtaking beauty that could overshadow all others, she had a natural and ethereal charm typical of a young girl. Especially her serene temperament nurtured in the mountains gave her an innate nobility that made her more approachable and likable.

Zhao Teng, who managed the internal operations of the company, saw Yang Chen enter with an unfamiliar but beautifully dressed girl following closely behind. The girl seemed affectionate towards Yang Chen, sticking close to him. Zhao Teng immediately gave Yang Chen a somewhat ambiguous look and greeted, "Good morning, Director Yang. Is this young lady perhaps the director's girlfriend?"